Ajay Gupta on the run, SA borders on high alert

Unconfirmed reports said Atul Gupta’s attempt to flee the country was foiled when a pilot refused to fly his plane.

Ajay Gupta, who was supposed to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court with eight accused in the Vrede Dairy empowerment project fraud case on Thursday, is now on the run.

The Hawks said the country’s ports had been placed on high alert. The oldest of the Gupta brothers has been warned to hand himself in “to avoid embarrassment”. The unit said it had a solid case against the accused, seven of whom have been granted bail of between R10,000 and R200,000.

The state alleges that millions of rand meant to benefit poor locals in the Free State were siphoned off for the benefit of the Gupta brothers – Ajay, Atul and Rajesh. The Guptas have a close relationship with former president Jacob Zuma and his son Duduzani.

On Thursday the court granted bail of R10,000 to government employees implicated in the matter Peter Thabethe, Sylvia Dlamini and Takisi Masiteng.

The other suspects accused of fraud and other crimes Varun Gupta, Ronica Ragavan, Nazeem Howa and Ashu Chawla were each granted bail of R200,000.

Kamal Vasram has remained in custody while the authorities check his particulars.

The Vrede fraud matter will resume on 17 August.

Bloemfontein-15/02/2018- Kamal Vasram. was one of the 8 suspects who appeared at Bloemfontein magistrate court in connection with charges of fraud and corruption, in the Vrede dairy farm project case.737
Photo: Matthews Baloyi/ANA/African News Agency

Bloemfontein-15/02/2018- Former Oakbay chief executive Nazeem Howa was one of the 8 suspects who appeared at Bloemfontein magistrate court in connection with charges of fraud and corruption, in the Vrede dairy farm project case.
Photo: Matthews Baloyi/ANA/African News Agency

Bloemfontein-15/02/2018- 7 of 8 suspects who appeared at Bloemfontein magistrate court in connection with charges of fraud and corruption, in the Vrede dairy farm project case.563
Photo: Matthews Baloyi/ANA/African News Agency

Bloemfontein-15/02/2018- Takisi Janki Masiteng,Ronica Raghavan and Varun Gupta are part of the 8 suspects who appeared at Bloemfontein magistrate court in connection with charges of fraud and corruption, in the Vrede dairy farm project case.532
Photo: Matthews Baloyi/ANA/African News Agency